American Boy Scouts embroiled in sex abuse row

Boy Scouts of America failed to report hundreds of cases of child abuse
committed by volunteers and employees, an investigation has claimed.

The LA Times revealed that in more than 100 of the cases, officials actively sought to conceal the alleged abuse or allowed the suspects to hide itPhoto: ALAMY

By Helena Kaznowska

1:16PM BST 17 Sep 2012

Based on a review of 1,600 internal Boy Scouts case files, the newspaper claimed to have uncovered the records of confirmed or alleged child molesters spanning 21 years within the US youth organisation.

In some cases, the Boy Scouts helped the accused "cover their tracks" and the organisation "sought to hide the situation" from the police, the paper said.

The LA Times revealed cases where suspected paedophiles were allowed to provide fake reasons for leaving the Boy Scouts, such as resigning due to "chronic brain dysfunction", "to travel more for work" or for "duties at a Shakespeare festival." In more than 500 cases filed between 1970 and 1991, the newspaper's investigation concluded that the Scouts learned of alleged abuse cases from parents, staff members, boys or anonymous tips. In 80% of those instances, there is no record of Scout officials reporting the allegations to police.

The LA Times revealed that in more than 100 of the cases, officials actively sought to conceal the alleged abuse or allowed the suspects to hide it.

The paper stated that in 1990, one Maryland leader was granted six weeks to resign and was allowed to give "his associates whatever reason that he chose" for the dismissal, after he had "readily agreed" that abuse allegations against him were true.

A case three years earlier Washington state, said that a district executive wrote to the national office complaining that despite a molestation conviction, his boss had refused to report a former scoutmaster, "because he has done so much for camp and is a nice guy," the LA Times said.

The article revealed that in many instances, Scouting officials claimed they were sparing young victims embarrassment by keeping allegations quiet.

The result was that some unreported molesters continued to abuse other children, according to court records and the Scouts' documents.

Boy Scouts of America spokesman Deron Smith, said: "The Boy Scouts of America believes even a single instance of abuse is unacceptable, and we regret there have been times when the BSA's best efforts to protect children were insufficient. For that we are very sorry and extend our deepest sympathies to victims.

"The BSA (has) continuously enhanced its multi-tiered policies and procedures, which now include background checks, comprehensive training programs and safety policies," the statement said.

"We have always cooperated fully with any request from law enforcement and today require our members to report even suspicion of abuse directly to their local authorities." The files threaten to tarnish the reputation of one of America's most trusted institutions.